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(11) | EP 0 163 822 A2 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A storage battery |
| (57) An electric battery is described comprising a container into which the electric elements
are arranged, and on the upper lid of which a hermetically closed housing is located.
The housing contains a plurality of interconnected electronic components, forming
a voltage comparator which compares a fixed and stable voltage produced from the battery
with another voltage proportional to that of the battery, signalling by means of a
red light the condition of a low charge or by means of a green light the good condition
of the charge, the unit of the circuit being supplied from the terminals of the battery
through a push button actuatable for checking purposes. |
[0001] The present invention relates to a storage battery in the box or container of which and usually in its upper portion a housing is arranged, connected with the output terminals, so that inside the housing an electronic circuit is arranged, adapted to indicate by means of some luminescent diodes if the voltage of the battery is above or below of a value estimated as a mean in the charge condition of a battery. In order to avoid failures of charge in an accumulator, a push button is provided for the supply of said circuit, through the operation of which, the corresponding diode lights.
[0002] At present, are provided indicators of the battery voltage usually placed between the installation supplied by the accumulator, but this solution is not frequent, since the introduction of a voltmeter makes the unit expensive.
[0003] On the other hand and especially in simple installations, the voltmeter can mean a complication, since the user of this installation cannot know the state of the battery untill he starts it, originating the consequent troubles when the battery results low in charge.
[0004] In other cases in which a battery under load is used for any generator not signalled, it is further impossible to know the condition of the battery if the instrumentation or the signalling are not available, so tnat tne failure of tne generator can involve an interruption in the performance provided by the battery.
[0005] This novel invention combines the low cost of the materials used with the possibility of fulfilling the above-mentioned and other features , in which it is only necessary to know if the battery is utilizable or if it is going out of charge.
[0006] The comparative cost of the electronic device with the accumulator is so low, that whatever battery can be supplied by the plant integral with said device. Further the electronic circuit in its hermetical housing, is adaptable to any existing battery.
[0007] At present no batteries are known having the electronic device incorporated with charge indication.
[0008] The electronic circuit consists in a voltage comparator, so that a comparison between the voltage of the battery and another produced by the same and having a lower value is made; the result of the comparison is amplified and converted to a positive or negative level relative to a predetermined value. These levels are applied to two LED type luminescent diodes with inverted connection and having clearly different colours, for instance red for low battery and green for normal battery. The threshold of actuation of either LED is accomplished according to the features of the producer of the accumulators or the type of the same. In this way, the circuit fits to each battery. A preferred value can be 12,35 V for a battery of a rated voltage of 12 V. In this case, if the voltage of the battery is V:
if V ≥ 12,35, battery in good condition and therefore the green diode lights;
if V < 12,35, the battery is undervoltage and therefore low in charge, so that the red diode lights.
[0009] Underneath a level of voltage of about 8 volts, the circuit is inactive and neither LED lights, signalling therefore a failure of the battery.
[0010] For a better understanding of the present invention there is now given a detailed description of the same, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:
figure 1 illustrates the electronic circuit according to the invention,
figures 2 and 3 illustrate in elevation and in plan, respectively, a storage battery containing a housing into which the electronic circuit of figure 1 is arranged.
[0011] Referring to figure 1, in which the electronic circuit is illustrated arranged into a hermetical housing, it can be seen that the terminals of the battery are referenced +B and -B, and from these the circuit is supplied through the push button F1.
[0012] In continuation, there are two series circuits, one of which is formed by the resistors R2, R1 and Rvl. From the sliding point Rv1, a signal is obtained that is proportional to the voltage of the battery, that is, it will change in the same proportion as the battery voltage and therefore it will be an exact indication of the changes that must be detected.
[0013] The second series is formed by the resistor R3, the Zener diode Dz1 and the silicon diode D1. In this case the voltage at the cathode of the Zener diode relative to the negative terminal, is the sum of the voltage drop in both diodes and is stable within wide limits of variation in the voltage of the battery.
[0014] The potential difference between points 2 and 3 corresponding to the above-mentioned series circuits, is a differential voltage establishing in either directions according to the setting point of the potentiometer Rv1 which is in relation with the kind of battery.
[0015] This differential voltage is applied to the amplifier G, of the galvanic coupling type and supplied by the battery through the points 4 and 7. At the exit of this amplifier, two luminescent diodes are provided, DL1 red coloured and DL2 green coloured, connected in opposition at the central point of two resistors R4 and R5 having the they same value and such tuav reduce the current for the diodes LED to the required value as a function of the battery so that they light properly and do not deteriorate.
[0016] When the voltage in the variable point of the series R2, Rv1 and R1 or point 2, is lower than that of the diodes Dz1 and D1 or point 3, the amplifier will act according to the potential referenced +y -y so that the exit 6 is high in voltage relative to the joining point of R4 and R5, and the diode DL1 placed in this direction of polarization will light, indicating with the red colour that the battery is low in charge relative to the preset value with Rv1.
[0017] A small difference of potential in the points 2 and 3 of the amplifier in the other direction, will produce a reversal of the voltage in 6, so that DL1 will extinguish and DL2 will light, indicating that the preset threshold has been passed and the battery is in order.
[0018] This circuit, having a very reduced size since the more complex component, the amplifier, is an integrated circuit and therefore reduced in size, is introduced into a tight housing and isolated from the inclemency of the weather and the electrolyte of the battery, so that its location does not entail any difficulty.
[0019] In figure 2, an elevation is illustrated of a battery upon which the housing A is arranged, with the circuit of figure 1, being represented the known elements, such as the terminals B and the lids of the vessels C.
[0020] In figure 3 the cover of the same battery is represented, illustrating the novelty of the housing A, upon which the push button P1 and the indicators DL1 and DL2 are arranged.
1. An electric battery comprising a box or container into which the electric elements
are arranged, characterized in that the box or container presents, preferably in the
upper lid, a hermetically closed housing into which a plurality of interconnected
electronic components are placed, forming a voltage comparator which compares a fixed
and stable voltage, produced from the battery,with another proportional to that of
the battery, signalling by means of a red light the condition of a low charge or by
means of a green light the good condition of the charge, the unit of the circuit being
supplied from the terminals of the battery through a push button actuatable for checking
purposes.
2. A battery as claime3 in claim 1, characterized in that the circuit contained in
the hermetical housing comprises a resistive voltage divider with its central point
preferably adjustable, applied to one of the entries of an operational amplifier,
to the other entry of which is coupled the stable voltage produced by a Zener diode
in series with a silicon diode and supplied by a resistor, the exit of the amplifier
being connected to two luminescent diodes in parallel and with inverted polarity at
the joining point of two resistors starting from the positive and negative poles of
the battery, all supplied by the terminals of the battery to be checked, through a
push-button switch.